View full sizeState Sen. Diane Savino, a Democrat, has joined an "independent" legislative coalition aiming to work with the Republican majority. (Staten Island Advance Photo / Jan Somma-Hammel)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Four maverick Democratic state senators -- including Staten Island's Diane Savino -- yesterday broke with their minority leadership to form an "independent" coalition, one that aims to work with Republicans in the majority.

"It's the only way we are going to move this state forward," said Ms. Savino.

She said the group has the blessing of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Democrats had held a slender majority for the past two years, but disarray in their conference caused them to lose control after the November elections.

Republicans now hold a 32-30 majority.

"We lost the majority and rightly so," said Ms. Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn). "The electorate had entrusted us with their hopes, and we abused that trust."

She said the group will no longer vote in lockstep with their Democratic colleagues, led by Senate Minority Leader John Sampson, against viable Republican-backed measures.

"We won't be the party of 'no,'" said Ms. Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn). "We will no longer vote as a bloc. We will no longer vote along party lines."

Nor will she and the other three lawmakers sit in conference with the Democrats.

However, she said, the group "remains Democrats who are committed to Democratic principles."

Ms. Savino is joined by state Sens. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), David Valesky (D-Onondaga) and David Carlucci (D-Orange/Rockland). She said the conference's "door is open" for other members to join.

Ms. Savino said Sampson, who had co-led the Democrats while in the majority, was "not happy" with their breakaway move. Other Democrats were "comfortable with the current status quo" and opted to stick with Sampson, she added.

Ms. Savino said she did not know if Sampson would retaliate, in terms of committee assignments or monetary allotments for staff and office space.